Category: Arthritis / Bone / Joint Health

May 27, 2023

Research Shows That 97 Percent of Herniated Discs Do Not Require Surgery. How Ayurveda Can Treat It

Abstract

Herniated discs refers to rupture of the intervertebral disc due to ageing, incorrect posture, obesity and accident. These discs are the protective cushion like pads and act as shock absorbers. It is also called a slipped disc. Here in this article we will discuss herniated discs that do not require surgery and it can be managed with the help of ayurveda.

Herniated Disc

Introduction

Herniated disc is a very painful condition. In this rupture of intervertebral discs occur due to many reasons such as ageing, incorrect posture and other reasons. The people who are obese are more prone to this disease. The most common symptoms of herniated discs are numbness, pain and tingling sensation in the affected area. This problem can be diagnosed easily with the help of physical examination or imaging. Nowadays people opt for surgery but 97 percent of herniated discs do not require any surgery, it can be easily manageable with the help of some ayurvedic herbs and some therapies such as abhyang, snehan, sweden and shirodhara etc. Let’s discuss in detail.

Causes

  • Aging
  • Incorrect posture
  • Obesity
  • Fall

Symptoms

Most herniated discs occur in the lower back but it can also occur in the neck and other regions. Its signs and symptoms depend on where the disc is present. Some of its symptoms are as follows.

1. Pain

In this case patients feel pain in the calf, thigh, buttocks and part of the foot.

2. Numbness

People who have herniated discs having numbness or tingling sensation in different body parts.

3. Weakness

Due to this problem it affects the ability to hold items.

Risk factors

      • Weight
      • Occupation
      • Genetics
      • Smoking
      • Frequent driving
      • Being sedentary

Diagnosis

1. Physical examination

In this doctor examines the patient’s reflexes, sensitivity to touch, walking ability, range of motion, muscle strength and location of painful region.

2. Imaging

It involves various test such as CT scan, myelogram, discogram, X Ray scans, MRI scans and CT scan

Prevention

      • Exercise
      • Maintain good posture
      • Maintain a healthy weight
      • Quit smoking

Treatment

1. Medication

      • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- ibuprofen and naproxen etc.
      • Opioids
      • Muscle relaxants
      • Nerve pain medications

2. Physical therapy

A physical therapist can recommend various exercises according to the patient’s symptoms.

3. Surgery

      • Discectomy- removing of all parts of discs
      • Nucleotomy- removal of soft centre of discs with the help of laser excision
      • Laminectomy- removal of part of the vertebrae
      • Spinal fusion- joining of vertebrates together
      • Disc replacement- replacement of discs with artificial implants.

Ayurvedic overview

According to ayurveda this disease can be correlated with aggravation of vata dosha because vata is essential for movement and all physiological functions. As the age increases vata aggravation occurs and causes many vata disorders. Herniated discs can be manageable easily with the help of ayurvedic herbs and some therapies. The therapies which are useful in the management of herniated discs are as follows

      1. Snehana
      2. Kati Basti
      3. Nasya
      4. Basti
      5. Dhanyamla Dhara
      6. Swedna
      7. Pizhichil
      8. Shirodhara

Let’s discuss these therapies in detail

1. Snehana

It is an ayurvedic massage that can be done on the whole body or affected part. Abhyanga is one of the commonly used techniques to perform massage. It mainly balances tha aggravated vata dosha and strengthens bones, tissue and ligaments. It also reduces the pain, fatigue and relaxes the mind.

2. Kati Basti

In this procedure a frame is made on the affected area and this frame is poured with medicated oil. This procedure is done for a certain period of time and the temperature of the oil should be the same throughout the process.

3. Nasya

In this procedure medicated oil is installed into the nasal cavity. This procedure is very helpful in the management of the symptoms of this disorder.

4. Basti

In this therapy medicated oil is introduced into the intestine through a rectal route. This is the best therapy for management of aggravated vata.

5. Dhanyamla Dhara

In this procedure mainly two ingredients are used such as dhanya and amalaki. The medicated liquid is made from these ingredients and poured on the affected body part. This procedure is very useful in improving the blood circulation and it reduces the pain and body ache.

6. Swedna

It involves many procedures to induce sweating. It widens the channels and liquefies the ama and it is expelled out of the body using panchkarma therapies. It is very helpful in relieving the stiffness and heaviness. This is the best therapy in the management of herniated discs.

7. Pizhichil

This therapy is done by two therapists in which lukewarm oil is used and the therapy is done in two positions i.e. sitting and lying. This therapy should be done for about 10 days.

8. Shirodhara

This therapy involves pouring medicated oil over the forehead. It improves sleep which is disturbed in most of the painful conditions.

Ayurvedic herbs which are useful in the management of herniated disc are

      1. Shunthi
      2. Rasna
      3. Ashwagandha
      4. Guduchi

1. Shunthi

Shunthi (Zingiber officinale) is a wonder herb that acts on the respiratory and digestive systems. This herb is very useful in the balancing of three doshas. This herb has many properties such as pain relieving, aphrodisiac, expectorant and digestive etc. It is very useful in the management of pain and spasms.

2. Rasna

This herb is very useful in the management of all bone related disorders such as sandhigatvata and aamvata etc. It also improves heaviness and heat in the body. So this herb is highly useful in the management of herniated discs.

3. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is well known for boosting the immune system and strengthening the body. This herb relieves pain and heals the tissue. Due to analgesic and tissue healing effects it is very useful in the management of this disease.

4. Guduchi

Guduchi is an ancient herb that acts on the digestive and circulatory system. It is very useful in improving the overall strength of the body and management of herniated discs.

Herbal remedies for herniated disc by Planet Ayurveda

Planet ayurveda is a worldwide company which treats humans as well as animals. This is a GMP certified company. All the medicines made by this company are natural and free from side effects. This company makes medicines under the observation of MD ayurveda doctors. Planet Ayurveda makes medicine in the form of tablets, syrup and churna. All the products are gluten free. In case of herniated disc following products are offered by Planet ayurveda

Product list

      1. Boswellia Curcumin
      2. Yograj Guggul
      3. Hakam Churna
      4. Aamvatantak Churna
      5. Maha Triphala Ghrit

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Product Description

1. Boswellia Curcumin

Boswellia curcumin is in the form of capsule and it contains mainly two herbs i.e. Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and curcumin (Curcuma longa). These two herbs show antiinflammatory actions and help in relieving joint pain. It is very useful in the management of various conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis, crohn’s disease and asthma etc. Both of the herbs are safe and support joint health. It is also rich in antioxidant property which helps in the movement of joints.

Dose:- 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water.

2. Yograj guggul

Yograj guggul is widely used ayurvedic medicine in the management of various bone diseases. The main ingredients of this tablet are Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), musta (Cyperus rotundus), chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), amalaki (Emblica officinalis) and vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) etc. These herbs balance the vata and relieve pain and stiffness. It is very helpful in the management of lumbar and cervical spondylosis. Thus this is the best medicine in the management of herniated discs.

Dose:- 2 tablets twice daily with lukewarm water after meals

3. Hakam Churna

It is in the form of churna and contains many herbs such as Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum), kalonji (Nigella sativa), methi (Trigonella foenum) and ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) etc. Acidity and indigestion aggravates the vata dosha and it causes many problems such as pain and stiffness. Thus, This churna is very useful in the management of indigestion and acidity related problems. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in the management of various disorders such as cervical spondylitis, stiffness, osteoarthritis, sciatica and rheumatoid arthritis etc.

Dose:- ½ tsp powder twice daily with hot water after meals

4. Aamvatantak Churna

Aamvatantak churna is made up of widely used ancient herbs. Some of its main herbs are ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), suranjaan (Colchicum autumnale), gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus), haridra (Curcuma longa) and sonth (Zingiber officinale). It has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation of the joints, tenderness and pain. It is also useful to boost immunity and give relief from swelling. Ashwagandha present in this churna is a wonderful herb that is very helpful in the management of various disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and spondylitis etc and it also gives strength to the body.

Dose:- 1 tsp twice daily with plain water or kumari saar or aloe vera juice after meals.

5. Maha Triphala Ghrit

It is an ayurvedic medicine in the form of ghee and it contains many dravyas such as Kwath dravya of triphala in which amalaki (Emblica officinalis), bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) and haritaki (Terminalia chebula) are present. Along with triphala bhringraj (Eclipta alba), vasa (Adhatoda vasica) and other dravyas also present. It shows many properties such as cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antioxidant, adaptogenic, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, anti obesity and anti diabetic properties etc. Thus this ghrit is very useful in the management of herniated discs.

Dose:- 3 to 6 gram mixed with mishri after meals

Conclusion

It refers to rupture of the intervertebral disc due to ageing, incorrect posture, obesity and many other reasons. These discs are the protective cushion like pads present between the vertebrae. These discs act as shock absorbers. It is also called a slipped disc. The most common symptoms of herniated discs are numbness, pain and tingling in the affected area. Here in this article we have discussed that 97 percent of herniated discs do not require any surgery, it can be easily manageable with the help of some ayurvedic herbs and some therapies such as abhyang, snehan, sweden and shirodhara etc.

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May 1, 2023

Herbal Remedies for Myotonic Dystrophy – Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

ABSTRACT

Myotonic Dystrophy is a part of genetic inherited disorders. It is also known as Muscular Dystrophy. Myotonic Dystrophy is characterised by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. In this disorder, there is prolonged muscle contraction and not being able to relax certain muscles after use. It progresses to myopathy, myotonia, and multiorgan involvement. Myotonic Dystrophy is based on phenotype, inheritance, genetic defects, and protein involvement. Most congenital and childhood-onset Muscular Dystrophy shows Autosomal Recessive Inheritance. Genetic splitting and lumping are frequently observed in Muscular Dystrophy. It is mainly an X-linked gene disorder.

Myotonic Dystrophy
INTRODUCTION

Myotonic Dystrophy is an inherited type of Muscular Dystrophy that affects muscles and other systems of the body. The weakening and muscle wasting slowly progress to disability. Symptoms usually show up around the 20s or 30s but it can happen at any age. At least 1 out of 8000 people worldwide is affected with myotonic dystrophy. There are different types of muscular dystrophy and most of them are found in boys at an early stage of life. In this disease, there is a hindrance to the production of proteins produced by abnormal genes which are needed in the formation and nourishment of healthy muscles. As per the Ayurvedic point of view, it is correlated with vata dosha vridhi and dhatu kshaya.

TYPES

There are two major types of myotonic dystrophies

Type 1 Myotonic Dystrophy:- It is one of the two types of muscular dystrophy. It not only affects the muscles but the heart, eye, and endocrine system as well. It has 3 forms: mild, classical, and congenital. Mild has the least severe symptoms as compared to others and is associated with a normal life span. The classical form is characterized by muscle weakness, and wasting of muscles, and it often leads to abnormal heart function. The congenital form is characterized by severe general weakness at the time of birth. It often leads to death just after birth because of complications with breathing.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms can differ from person to person. Every symptom must be included in every patient.

  • Cardiac Conduction Abnormality (abnormality of progression of electrical conduction)
  • Distal muscle weakness
  • Excessive daytime sleep
  • Myotonia
  • Subcapsular cataract
  • Abnormal rapid eye movement
  • Psychiatric disturbance
  • Intellectual impairment
  • Fatigue
  • Foot dorsiflexor weakness

Type 2 Myotonic Dystrophy

It is inherited muscular dystrophy which affects the muscles and other systems of the body. It is characterized by prolonged muscle tensing as well as muscle weakness. The signs and symptoms occur during the age of twenties and thirties. Muscles in the neck, fingers, and hips are typically affected. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and is caused by genetic changes in CNBP genes.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of this disease can vary from mild to severe in different cases.

  1. Delayed relaxation of muscle fibres
  2. Cataract
  3. Arrhythmias or heart block
  4. Proximal muscles tend to be more weaker
  5. Head, neck, and, face muscle weakness

CAUSES

Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

The person inherits the pathogenic variant from a parent who has the genetic disease. The disease occurs due to the new pathogenic variant in the causal gene. Each child of an individual with an autosomal dominant disease has a 50% chance of inheriting the variant and the disease.

  • Type 1 is caused by a mutation in the DMPK gene.
  • Type 2 is caused by a mutation in the CNBP gene.
  • In each case, the segment of DNA is abnormally repeated many times and forms an unstable region in the gene.
  • These changes are responsible for less or no production of proteins which leads to dystrophy.

DIAGNOSIS

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Muscular Dystrophy is diagnosed by doing a physical examination. The presence of myotonia and pattern of muscle wasting will help in identifying MD. There will be a weakness in the jaw and neck muscles.

LAB TEST

There are several tests to diagnose myotonic dystrophy. EMG ( Electromyography ) is done by inserting a small needle into the muscle. The electrical activity of the muscle is studied and shows the pattern of electrical discharges.

For the absolute examination, there is a genetic test. For this, a blood sample is taken to identify the altered gene within the chromosome. These are present within the white blood cells. Gene alteration in CNBP and DMPK is responsible for myotonic dystrophy.

TREATMENT

There is no absolute treatment available for Myotonic Dystrophy in modern science. Ankle support and Leg braces can help when the symptoms worsen. There are few medications that lessen the myotonia. Symptomatic treatment is given for the heart and eye problems.

AYURVEDIC OVERVIEW OF MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY

As per the Ayurvedic point of view, health is a balanced state of all three doshas ( vata, pitta, and kapha ) and all seven dhatu present normally. An imbalance in any of them leads to disease. In Ayurveda, muscular dystrophy is described as Mamsashosha. In this condition, there is a decrease in mamsa dhatu. Agni leads to muscle destruction. To manage muscular dystrophy there is a need to balance vata, pitta dosha, and proper nourishment to muscle. Vitiation of digestive fire leads to improper absorption of nutrients which further leads to weakness.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

Myotonic Dystrophy is managed by Panchkarma as well as by oral medication.

Oral Medication

Oral medication is mainly focused on symptomatic relief. The general management of vata vyadhi is adopted.

Popularly used medicines are

  1. Yograj Guggul
  2. Dashmool Kwath
  3. Ekangveer Ras
  4. Ashwagandha Avaleha
  5. Narsimha Churan
  6. Shatavari churan

Panchkarma

Shashtikashali Pinda Sweda

250 gm of shashtikashali is cooked in 1.5 ltr of decoction of balamoola and milk. A cooked mixture is made into a bolus in cotton cloth. A whole-body massage with dashmoola oil is to be done for 10 minutes followed by a whole-body massage for 45 minutes with a bolus of shashtikashali. Then abhyanga with dashmoola oil is repeated for the next 10 minutes.

Mustadi Yapana Basti

Honey 50 gm, rock salt 5gm, Panchtikataghrita 50 ml, Ashwagandha oil 50 ml, Satapushpa kalka 15 gm, milk processed with mustadi yapana basti kwath 300 ml were mixed in standard sequence for basti preparation to forms a homogeneous emulsion which was indirectly heated on a water bath.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda is a GMP Certified company offering products worldwide. All the products are prepared by following the Ayurveda texts and under the strict guidance of MD Ayurved experts. All the products are made from pure herbs and devoid of any kind of side effects which make them safe to use. Let’s have a look at the formulations

  1. Tribulus Power
  2. Ashwagandhadi Ghrit
  3. Atirasadi Churna
  4. Boswellia Curcumin
  5. Gandhak Rasayan
  6. Bala Ashwagandha Thailam + Dhanwantharam Tailam

Herbal Remedies For Myotonic DystrophyBuy Now: Herbal Remedies for Myotonic Dystrophy
PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION

1. TRIBULUS POWER

Tribulus Power is a capsule formed by Planet Ayurveda. It is prepared by Ayurveda experts using a standardised extract of Gokshura ( Tribulus terrestris ). It has ample health benefits. This herb balances all three doshas and it has tridosha pacifying, shoolhara (Pain relieving) and agnikrit-like properties.

Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

2. ASHWAGANDHADI GHRIT

Ashwagandhadi Ghrit is a classical ayurvedic ghrit formulation. Its main content is Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) along with Bhibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica). It is enriched with properties of both vajikarna (Aphrodisiac) and rasayan (Rejuvenative). Helpful in balancing all the three doshas. Hence, provides nourishment to all sapta dhatus. Also helpful in retaining muscle strength.

Dosage:- 1 tsp daily with warm milk/water.

3. ATIRASADI CHURNA

Atirasadi Churna is a polyherbal preparation by Planet Ayurveda. It has rejuvenating effects. It helps in the nourishment of Mamsa and Shukra dhatu. It contains many ingredients like Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kali Musli (Curculigo orchioides), Semal Musli (Salmalia malabarica), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), etc.

Dosage:- 1 tsp twice daily with plain water after meals.

4. BOSWELLIA CURCUMIN

Boswellia Curcumin is a unique formulation by Planet Ayurveda. It contains ingredients like Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and Haridra (Curcuma longa). Both ingredients are present in equal quantities (250 mg) in capsule form. It helps in retaining muscle strength. It is helpful in increasing the overall immunity of the body.

Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

5. GANDHAK RASAYAN

Gandhak Rasayan is a classical ayurvedic medicine. Its main content is Shuddha gandhak. Gandhak Rasayan is well known to bolster immunity and enhance body strength, stamina, and nourishment.

Dosage:- 2 tablets twice daily with warm water.

6.BALA ASHWAGANDHA THAILAM + DHANWANTHARAM TAILAM

Bala Ashwagandha Thailam and Dhanwanthram Tailam are prepared by Planet Ayurveda and formulated as per the Ayurvedic texts. Both oils are used for vat disorders. These oils are meant for local application only. The oil application also improves muscle strength. All of these help in promoting blood circulation in the affected areas. Both oils are to be mixed in equal quantities and to be heated first. Gently massage the affected area and keep it for at least 6 hours. This oil will provide strength to the muscles.

Contact Planet Ayurveda Support Team to provide you the costing/ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or Call at 0172-521-4030 (India), +91-172-521-4030 (Outside India) or Whatsapp at (+91) 9915-593-604

CONCLUSION

Although there are many fundamental aspects of the mechanism, Myotonic Dystrophy is still unrevealed, especially in the brain. It is a multisystemic disease characterized not only by muscles and heart but also there is CNS alteration. They are now recognized as brain diseases in which both newborns and adults are involved. There is no absolute treatment available for this disease. All about symptomatic management. Ayurveda is proven to be the best line of treatment for Myotonic Dystrophy.

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